Weaner



June 22, 1937. R, M, PROSE ET AL 2,084,919

' WEANER Filed Nov. 9, 1955 gmcmw,

" JLDZPzmse Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED if T A E eater arms 1 Claim.

This invention relates to weaners, one of the objects being to provide acalf and colt weaner of sturdy and efficient construction which can bemade and sold at low cost.

A further object is to provide a weaner hav ing a new and novelarrangement of spikes which serve to prevent the calf or colt fromthrusting the device back by brushing it along the flank of the mother.

Another object is to provide a weaner which will not interfere with thefree breathing of the calf or colt and will permit the animal to grazeeasily.

A still further object is to provide a weaner which can be applied andremoved readily by the attendant and can be quickly fitted to heads ofdifferent sizes.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is side elevation of the weaner.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view showingin detail a portion of the weaner.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 1-4,

Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates anarcuate shield plate the top and bottom edges of which are bent backonto the front convex face of the plate to pro' vide reinforcements 2and 3 while tongues 4, in-

tegral with the ends of reinforcement 2, are looped and riveted to formeyes 5 for engagement by attaching links 6.

The lower reinforcement 3 has a series of alined openings formingsockets l in which are seated and welded the butt ends of spikes 8 and9. These spikes are alternately arranged, the spikes 8 being extended atright angles to the plate I while the spikes 9 are extended beyond thelower end of the plate along lines parallel with the plate and thenmerge into forwardly extended prongs Ii] parallel with the spikes 8.

Side straps ll formed of metal or other stiif material are formed withclosed loops 92 at their lower ends through which the angular links oextend. Similar closed loops l3 at the upper ends of straps H areengaged by rings I4 supported in turn by an adjustable supporting strapi5 adapted to go over the top of the animals head.

An upper strap 56 connects the rings I 4 and is adapted to extend acrossthe head under and close to the neck while another lower strap 11, whichis adjustable, connects the two links 6 and is arranged to go across theback of the head adjacent to the mouth. These two straps l6 and i? areconnected by a stifi strip l8, preferably folded to provide threethicknesses and end loops i9 and 2t. Strap it extends through loop l9while loop 29 is slotted at 2! to receive a ring 22 havinglaterally'extended lugs 23 seated in the loop. The lower strap 5? isextended through ring 22.

In practice the straps l6 and I7 are adjusted about the head of the calfor colt beneath its neck so that plate i will rest on the nose. Strap [5will of course support the weaner in position where none of the partswill interfere with grazing.

The weaner can be worn by the calf or colt without discomfort but anyattempt made by the animal to reach the udder of its mother will resultin the spikes 8 first engaging the flank and when the calf or colt thenpushes back on the weaner, the ends of spikes 8 will act as fulcrums forthe L-shaped spikes 9-H] the points of which will thus be thrust intothe udder. Because of the sensitiveness of the tender udder, the motherwill promptly kick or flight away the calf or colt which will soonbecome discouraged and proceed to graze.

Importance is attached to the fact that the spikes do not go through theplate I but are welded in the sockets provided therefor. Thus the backsurface is left smooth and will not cause discomfort. The L-shapedspikes provide open spaces between them through which the animal canbreathe and no apertures are necessary in the plate 9 for that purpose.It will be noted that the free ends of all of the spikes are disposed inan imaginary surface parallel with the plate l. Thus all of the spikesare equally effective.

Obviously any attempt made by the animal to thrust the weaner upwardlyalong the head and out of the way will be resisted by the still stripsii and is at the sides and under the head.

What is claimed is:

A weaner including an arcuate plate having folded upper and lower edgeportions constituting reinforcements, spikes secured in the lowerreinforcement and abutting against the plate, said spikes being arrangedin two series alternately disposed, the spikes of one series beingextended outwardly from and at right angles to said reinforcement andthe spikes of the other series being extended downwardly along andbearing backwardly against the reinforcement, the lower portions of saiddownwardly extended spikes being extended outwardly substantiallyparallel with the first named spikes and below the centers of the spacesbetween them, the free ends of all of the spikes being disposed in animaginary surface parallel with the plate, and means for attaching theplate to the head of an animal.

RAY M. PROSE.

HENRY F. PROSE.

